A solid outing from LSU ace Zack Hess helped the Tigers open up SEC play with a 4-2 win over Missouri.
Hess was in control in the early innings, needing just 21 pitches to escape the first two innings of play.  
Trouble came in the third when Hess walked two batters to load the bases in a two out inning. Hess threw 37 pitches in the third but was able to escape with a key strikeout to keep Missouri scoreless.
Controlling the pitch count was a big aspect Hess worked on in the offseason so he could last longer in games.
“We had so many chances to break the game open,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “Hess proved he’s a Friday night starter in the SEC. I thought he was just fantastic.”
A four pitch walk to begin the game from Missouri starter Bryce Montes de Oca put centerfielder Zach Watson at first base with no outs. The Missouri ace proceeded to open the game with 12 straight balls thrown and loaded the bases for LSU.
First baseman Austin Bain hit a groundball at second base, scoring Watson but left runners on the corners with one out.
The inning continued when Montes De Oca walked in another run with two outs, extending LSU’s lead to 2-0. By the time the inning was over, Montes De Oca had thrown 36 pitches and walked five batters.
Beau Jordan blasted a solo shot out of the park in the third and LSU would load the bases once again in the sixth with one out. LSU was unable to capitalize after back-to-back groundouts ended the inning and kept the score at 3-0.
LSU went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position including the seventh when the Tigers put runners on first and third with one out and couldn’t convert. The one came courtesy of Watson in the eighth with an RBI double that scored third baseman Chris Reid, giving LSU some breathing room at 4-2 heading to the ninth.
Hess was phenomenal from the fourth to the sixth inning, retiring nine straight batters with eight strikeouts to that point. The seventh inning got away from Hess as he walked three straight batters and was pulled for sophomore Nick Bush.
“I had to battle through some situations but we were able to walk out of here with a win which is what counts,” Hess said. “Didn’t have my best stuff tonight. I feel like I was missing by a hair on a couple of those pitches but I have to be ready.”
Bush inherited a tough situation but minimized the damage. After an opening sac fly brought in Missouri’s first run of the game, Bush got two hole hitter Trey Harris to groundout to first, scoring another run. An inning ending pop-out to Watson kept LSU with the 3-2 advantage.
Bush went three up, three down in the eighth including a strikeout before the Tigers handed the reigns to senior Austin Bain to finish the game. Bain struck out two straight batters in the ninth as the Tigers sealed the victory.
LSU will be back in action Saturday against Missouri at 6 p.m. with junior Caleb Gilbert drawing the start.